A study carried out by MARCO reveals that 64% of Portuguese people highlight gastronomy and the novelty factor as the main criteria for choosing their holidays.

For the “Post Covid Consumer Behavior II” study, by the international communication agency with an office in Lisbon, more than 4,000 interviews were carried out at European level, analysing markets such as Portugal, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Portugal and the United Kingdom, both with 64%, are the countries that most value the gastronomic experience.

Covid-19 also continues to have an impact on decision criteria, with 60% of Portuguese opting for “Covid safe” destinations, this being the main criterion in the over-65 age group (75%). Culture (59%), entertainment (54%) and sustainability (52%) close the top decision criteria for the Portuguese.

“Post Covid Consumer Behavior II” also highlights that consumer behavior is “constantly changing” and that situations such as those recorded in the pandemic have profound consequences on their habits, the final effect of which is yet to be revealed. An example of profound change in tourism is the digitization of the sector. According to the study, 56% of Europeans and 60% of Portuguese say that the product they buy most online rather than in physical stores are tickets and travel packages.

Didier Lagae, founder and CEO of MARCO, states that “although 2022 has been the year of a return to normality, many Europeans continue to maintain Covid-free places as one of the main reasons for choosing their tourist destination. The fact that some countries were able to handle the situation, better or worse, may have been the key to welcoming more tourists this year.”